Game apparatus



May 16, 1944. c GRANT GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1943 n wil IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATE PAT 0 F Fl C E GAME Casper E. Grant, Portsmoutli,,Y-a..

Application September 3, 1943,. SerialLNoz. 5012,1564"- 1 Claim.

This inventionrelates to a game apparatus, one of the objects being to provide a simple, inexpensive but attractive structure which can be used for playing a variety of games, the result of every game being dependent upon the skill of the player so that added interest is thus provided.

A further object is to provide a game structure the parts of which are held assembled at all times so that they cannot become misplaced or lost.

A still further object is to provide a game adaptable to both indoor and outdoor uses, it being possible to make the apparatus in different sizes to meet the requirements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the,

invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of, the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure l is a front elevation of the game apparatus, a portion being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l and 2 designate end posts which can be of any size desired, the inner sides of these posts, which are the sides nearest each other, being preferably inclined so as to diverge upwardly.

Furthermore each post can be provided with a recess 3 in its inclined surface 4 and at the upper end of each of the inclined surfaces there may be provided a bumper 5 which can be of cushioning material.

In the structure shown the two posts are located at the ends of a base strip 6 of desired length and this strip can be mounted on end supports 7 or, if preferred, the strip can be dispensed with completely and the posts can be erected on the ground or any other surface. The posts, which are rigidly mounted, are connected near their upper ends by a guide element 8 preferably in the form of a wire held taut. This wire is maintained substantially horizontal. Pivotally mounted between the posts but adjacent to the respective posts are propelling levers 9 the upper ends of which are forked as at Ill so as to freely straddle the wire 8. Each lever is mounted to swing between the adjacent post l and asupport ll which, inthe illustrated structure, is securely mounted on the strip 6 and carries a bumper l3 located where it can be contacted by the lever 9.

Interposed between the supports I2 is a bar l4 preferably angular in cross-section and having trunnions l5 which are journalled in the supports l2. Each face of this bar can be provided with suitably designated graduations for use in playing a particular game. For example one face of the bar can be formed with graduations designated by letters or the like and shown at l6, whereby a baseball game can be played. Another surface, indicated at ll in Fig. 2 can be marked with graduations indicating inches and fractions thereof, these graduations being designated by numerals increasing progressively from the center line 18 on the bar.

A ball I9 is loosely mounted on each end portion of the wire and is adapted to be slid therealong when propelled by the adjacent lever Ill or by contact with the other ball.

In practice one lever and one ball are assigned to each player. The first player places the ball l9 against the lever which, in turn, is located preferably against the bumper 5 and across the recess 3. The player then hits the lever B by snapping a finger thereagainst and this, in turn, will transmit motion to the ball which will be propelled along the wire. The purpose of the game is to bring the ball above a selected graduation. The other player has the privilege of similarly operating his ball to place it above a desired graduation and to displace the opponents ball. Obviously various games can be played in this manner and for each game there will be provided a scale or chart applicable thereto. If a game of baseball is being played and the chart l6 used, the position of the ball or projectile when at rest after being propelled will determine the resultant play. For example if the ball should stop over the letter H, a hit will have been made. If the ball should stop over the letter 0, an out will have been made.

If a game known as "Inches is to be played, the chart shown in Fig. 2 would be employed, the ball being adapted to indicate the total number of inches added up by each player, this being determined by the different numbers above which the ball will stop. The rules of the game can be varied, as will be obvious but in every case the structure herein described will be employed.

If the apparatus is set out-of-doors on a large scale, the propelling levers could be actuated by hitting them with the hand or with a mallet for the purpose of driving the ball or projectile a desired distance. By referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the guide 8 constitutes a tie between the posts I and 2 so that displacement of one of the posts away from the other post is resisted. It will be noted further that the supports I2 have the bar interposed between them and this bar constitutes a brace whereby one support is backed up or reenforced by the other support. Consequently when eitherof the levers 9 is actuated between one of the posts and the-adjacent support l2, the impact of the lever against cushion 5 or cushion I3 will be resisted by the where extreme force may be applied to th levers.

while the game is being played.

Obviously in any case the result of the game is determined by the skill of the player who, through calculating the exerted force and the distance to be travelled can frequently place the ball on a selected spot.

What is claimed is:

In a game apparatus a base, spaced opposed posts upstanding from the base, a. guide connecting the upper end portions of the posts and constituting a tie, supports on the base and between the posts, a bar interposed between and reenforcing the supports, there being a space between each post and one of the supports, cushionin means on the posts and support and within the space, a lever pivotally mounted in said space and movable in one direction against one cushion and in the opposite direction against the other cushion, said'lever having a forked end freely straddling the guide, and a game piece slidably mounted on the guide and between the respective levers.

CASPER E. GRANT. 

